Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-25
A NOTE OF ALARM.
The Danger Threatened by the
Wholesale Destruction of Timber.

Bile paper read dispatch from st. Louis,
Mo-, announcing the departure from that
city of eighteen gentlemen from Illinois,
Indiana and Michigan, representing ST.
600, 900 capital, for the South to purchase
a million or more acres of land belonging
to the Mobile and OHIO railroad in Ten
nessee, Mississippi and Alabama, and
erect saw mills and open a new and eX-
tensive lumber trade in those sections. l
baYe seen mauy similar reports in the
papers and noticed that they are regard
ed All over the South with great satisfac-
ton as indicating the approach OF golden
era for the South.
AMOUNT OF TIMBER ANNUALLY USED.
But ought we not pause for moment
to consider seriously whether these ex-
tensive purchases of Southern timber
lands for lumber purposes promise the
prosperity which the Southern people
think they do? In some oticlal papers
received lately from the Department Of
Agriculture at Washington, ! read the
following, which may serve as food to the
mind Of the wise: The total area OF land
OF the United States, exclusive of that &C.
cupied by towns and cities, and that COW
cred by large bodies OF water, such as
lakes, etc., is 1,S56, SIC, 400 acres, of which
4I0,0o0,0O0 acres are forest area. Now
let US follow the figures from the same
authoritative source relative to cOBsump-
ton OF timber. We had ia 1884 l57 900
miles OF railroad track, which required
for their building the TINT Der OF 4, 10, 900
acres IN round numbers. To keep the
existing roads In repair will require the
timber OF 100000 acres annually. Now
the average length Of new railroads built
every year is about 1000 miles. requiring
the timber OF 1872 900 acres. If We allow
twpntV wears az tho TINA
trees TO attain size suitable for making
ties, then 1t would require the annual
growth OF II, 155, 900 acres to keep good the
existing roads, and 100000 acres to sup
ply the annual demand Tor new roads, to
say nothing OF keeping the latter in re-
pair, so that we need to hold in reserve
not less than 100000 acres of woodland
for the maintenance of the road bed Of
our railroads, aside from the add tIOnal
demand for the building of cars, bridges
depots and platforms. The census also
reports that in 1880 forest fires consumed
the trees on l0,275,000 acres. 70 supply
fuel for our factories, locomotives, steam
boats, stores and dwellings requires the
product OF no less than t, 800, 0G0 acres an
nually. The estimated cut OF last year
would lay bare $500, 900 acres. All other
products of the forest, such as hewn tim
Der, posts and telegraphic poles aud mis-
cellaneous articles, of which there are no
definite reports, it NAV reasonably be sup
posed would clear 4, 260,000 acres, M aklng
in all 27,357 900 acres annually, VIZ:
Acres.
For existing roads repairs. ........... $4,000
For new roads ..... ...... ........ 1872 900
Fuel supply, factories, dwellings,, 6,5O0,OJ0
Cur timber for other purpOses........ 90 0, 70
miscellaneous. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l,26O.Ou0
Total - 49, non
Making an allowance OF 10 per cent.
for any possible overestimate, 25,0O0,O00
acres will be left as the annual cOnsump-
ton OF our forests. Thus 1t will be seen
that an area equal to the State OF Ken
lucky or Virginia is denuded OF its forest
trees every year. These are startling
figures and facts, and deserve the most
serious attention of the statesman as
well as the farmer.
INFLUENCE OF FORESTS UPON CLIMATE
AND RAINFALL,
The reports received by the Agricultu-
raj Department from different sections of
the country in regard 20 the influence Of
forests upon the flow OF streams and UNION
floods and drOughts, in the most positive
manner attest the fact that the removal
of the forest IRON the neighbOrhood of
streams not only lessons the whole
amount OF water flowing in their chan
nels. but renders the flow much more
irregular than before. In the case of
smaller streams, where the forest adjacent
TO them, or IN which they have their head
springs, have been cut off, the streams
nave been so reduced as at certain
seasons of the year almost to disappear:
and In the case of streams, whether large
or small, the result is TO produce floods
when the snow melts IN spring, or after
heavy rains, and greatly diminished
flow OF water efterward, especially in
those seasons of the year when rams
are least frequent, and copioLs,
Hardly anything can be regarded as
being better settled, by extended obser-
vatiOns, than that the forests are great
regulators OF the distribution OF the water
precipitated from the clouds, and conse.
quently of the flow OF streams. BY their
shade, and by the obstruction which they
offer TO the sweeping winds, they lessen
the evaporation which would Otherwise
carry of speedily from the ground much
Of the rainfall, or the water from the
melted snow, while the loose, spongy
soil, formed by the accumulation Of their
fallen leaves, retains the rainfall and pre-
vents it from escaping too quickly to the
water courses. The forests cause
the water to flow gradually to the streams
instead OF allowing it to flood them and
produce devastating torrents.
The Northern supplies Of lumber ave
within the last few years perceptibly
dimini shed, and for some time attention
has been directed to both the pine and
the hard woods OF the South. The lum Der
men have been transferring their opera.
uons 70 great extent to this region.
Agents of the great woodworking
establishments OF this country and of
Europe nave visited most OF the accessi.
Die forests Of the South and South west,
and bought up the choicest OF the hard
woods.
Ii is none too soon for the South 10 take
warning from the results of the reckless
destruction OF forests 10 some other paris
OF this country and in European coun-
tr es, aud begin 10 husband their forest re.
sUuI ces, and so regulate the consumption
Of their timber that IL Will not impair
Their forest capital, but leave 1t in such
amount and SO distributed that 1t may
perpetually yield sufficient supply for
the economic uses or the people. while at
the same time eXerting its proper infiu-
ence in preserving desirable climatic
condition, aud mInisteriug TO the inter.
ests OF agriculture and commerce.
Your valuable paper, always ready TO
advocate and stimulate all efforts Tend
ing 10 the development ana prosperity OF
the south, may well SQUAD the note OF
alarm ana inquire into this subject. Let
IL call the attention of <the Outhern
DeODIe TO this matter, with the view nj